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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. To whom does Laura liken many of her personality traits?
(a) Her oldest sister.
(b) Her mother.
(c) Her grandmother.
(d) Her sixth-grade teacher.

2. How is the church a few blocks away doing?
(a) Making lots of money.
(b) Making no money, but saving lots of souls.
(c) It folded in two weeks.
(d) It's making enough money to pay the light bill.

3. Over what do the women argue in Chapter 7?
(a) Laura ruining the church's reputation.
(b) How to use the collection.
(c) Which Bible to buy.
(d) Laura using the money for booze.

4. Where does Essie say that the spark to convert has to come from?
(a) The music.
(b) Laura's sermons.
(c) God.
(d) People's hearts.

5. Who starts a church a few blocks from where Essie and Laura sit?
(a) A reformed pimp.
(b) A reformed alcoholic.
(c) An ex-cop.
(d) An active drug dealer.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the image of Buddy and Laura's sparkling eyes invoke?

2. How does Laura picture Essie's role in the street corner church?

3. What is ironic about Chicken-Crow-For-Day saying he has been washed clean and white by the love of God?

4. What is Essie's opinion of Laura's lifestyle?

5. What does Laura do after they are persuaded?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think the drums always stop just before Laura makes her entrance?

2. How does Laura "fight unfair" in Essie and Laura's argument in Chapter 13?

3. Assuming many images in a short novel such as this one can be significant, of what do you think Essie's knife could be symbolic?

4. How does Laura seem to have her moment of transformation as she comes to jail and confronts Essie?

5. What does Laura suggest near the end of chapter eight that seems to set the dynamics of how Essie and Laura participate in the "church" and what do you think might be the consequences?

6. How is the narration's description of the North being a Black mecca ironic?

7. What two things are mentioned that have already been mentioned in previous chapters and what might be the significance of their being mentioned again?

8. How is the title of Chapter 34 related to the New Testament?

9. How is the title of Chapter 28, "Cross to Bear" relevant to Buddy and Laura's relationship?

10. What truth do you think Birdie Lee might reveal in the future as foreshadowed in Chapter 19?

(see the answer keys)

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